Here's why MrBeast's smile is making some of his fans uneasy
MrBeast's smile has sparked unease among some fans due to his lack of "eye smiles." Many have pointed out that his expressions seem incomplete, leading to speculation. However, the YouTuber revealed that severe astigmatism affects his vision, explaining why his eyes don't fully engage when he smiles.

Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Some fans find MrBeast's smile unsettling, criticising its lack of warmth and natural expression. They often describe it as "creepy" or "lifeless", pointing out that he doesn't smile with his eyes.
- The YouTuber revealed he has severe astigmatism, a vision condition that causes him to squint without contact lenses, explaining why his eyes appear disengaged when he smiles.
- Fan feedback helped MrBeast discover his vision issue, prompting him to get an eye exam and begin wearing contacts, improving his eyesight and photo expressions.
- His signature open-mouth thumbnails were phased out in 2023 after MrBeast found that closing his mouth in thumbnails boosted video watch time, sparking a trend among other creators.
- Despite criticism of his smile, MrBeast remains highly influential, continuing to draw massive audiences with philanthropic content and engaging media strategies.
MrBeast's profile summary
Real name | James Stephen "Jimmy" Donaldson |
Nickname | MrBeast, Jimmy Donaldson, MrBeast6000 |
Gender | Male |
Date of birth | May 7, 1998 |
Age | 27 (as of 2025) |
Zodiac sign | Taurus |
Place of birth | Wichita, Kansas, USA |
Current residence | Greenville, North Carolina, USA |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | White |
Sexuality | Straight |
Height in feet | 6'3" |
Height in centimetres | 191 |
Weight in pounds | 190 |
Weight in kilograms | 86 |
Hair colour | Light brown |
Eye colour | Blue |
Mother | Sue Donaldson |
Father | Stephen Donaldson |
Siblings | One |
Relationship status | Engaged |
Partner | Thea Booysen |
School | Christian Academy |
University | East Carolina University (dropped out) |
Profession | YouTuber, businessman, media personality, philanthropist |
Net worth | $1 billion |
@mrbeast | |
@mrbeast | |
X (Twitter) | @MrBeast |
Why is MrBeast's smile making some of his fans uneasy?
Fans have labelled MrBeast's smile unsettling, pointing out its exaggerated intensity and lack of natural warmth. Many feel his grin appears forced, sparking discussions about its authenticity. Some argue that his expression seems lifeless, adding to the eerie effect, with some going to the extent of labelling it MrBeast's creepy smile.
What happened to MrBeast's smile?

Source: Getty Images
Fans have long speculated about MrBeast's smile, noting that he doesn't appear to "smile with his eyes" in photos and videos. As a result, the famous YouTuber addressed the concerns, revealing that he has severe astigmatism, a condition that affects the shape of the cornea and leads to blurred vision. He explained on X (Twitter):
Funny story, I get this comment a lot, and it's why I got my eyes examined. I found out I have a severe astigmatism, and my vision is horrible. Without contacts, I can't see unless I'm squinting, and that's why my eyes used to look off in photos when I smiled.
So thanks to everyone who pointed it out, you helped me realise objects far away are not supposed to be blurry and now I have contacts lol.
A closer look at MrBeast's smiling face
Fans have closely analysed MrBeast's smile, with many pointing out its unique characteristics. Some have described it as "creepy", noting that it lacks warmth and natural expression. His grin often appears exaggerated, leading to discussions about its authenticity.
In recent photos, particularly those shared on social media, viewers have commented that his smile doesn't fully engage his eyes, making it seem somewhat lifeless. A Reddit post even labelled one of his recent smiles as "the most unsettling thing ever", sparking further debate among fans.
Despite the scrutiny, MrBeast remains one of the most influential content creators. He continues to engage audiences with his philanthropy and high-energy videos. MrBeast's smile, whether intentional or not, has become a topic of intrigue, adding another layer to his online persona.
What is MrBeast's open-mouth thumbnail?
The MrBeast with an open-mouth thumbnail has long been a staple of his attention-grabbing YouTube strategy. His exaggerated expressions helped drive engagement by making videos feel exciting and unpredictable.
However, on September 6, 2023, MrBeast revealed that closing his mouth in thumbnails has increased watch time on his videos. He tweeted:
I closed my mouth on all my thumbnails, and the watch time went up on every video lol. My mouth is now closed in all my thumbnails, but the war has just begun. We must not rest until mouths are closed in everyone's thumbnails.
His revelation sparked discussions among fellow creators, with some, like MKBHD, suggesting that exaggerated thumbnails may lead to lower viewer retention. Fans joked that other YouTubers will follow suit by closing their mouths in thumbnails. MrBeast even humorously declared he wouldn't rest until all thumbnails had closed mouths.
FAQs
- Why does MrBeast smile like that? The smile was largely due to his severe astigmatism, which affects his vision and causes him to squint in photos when he isn't wearing contact lenses.
- Why does MrBeast never smile with his eyes? MrBeast explained that his poor vision forces him to squint, thus changing his expression.
- What's up with MrBeast's smile? MrBeast's smile has sparked online discussions, with some calling it "creepy" or "off-putting." However, the reason behind it is his vision issues, which he only discovered thanks to fans.
- What is MrBeast diagnosed with? MrBeast has been diagnosed with Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel condition that affects digestion and requires strict dietary management. He also has severe astigmatism, which impacts his eyesight.
- Does MrBeast have a disability? No, he doesn't. While Crohn's disease and astigmatism are medical conditions, they are not disabilities in the traditional sense.
- Why is MrBeast's face like that? YouTuber MrBeast deliberately uses distinctive facial expressions in his thumbnails to boost click-through rates and engagement. Specifically, he chooses the "shock face" expression with his mouth closed.
- Why is MrBeast's shocked face popular? The MrBeast shocked face thumbnail is a signature expression he often uses in his YouTube thumbnails to grab attention and boost engagement.
Final word
MrBeast's smile has sparked an unexpected conversation, leading to a fascinating revelation about how vision affects expression. Many have noticed that he doesn't smile with his eyes in photos and videos. In response, Mr Beast revealed that he has severe astigmatism, a condition that affects vision and can make facial expressions appear different.
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